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Power Platform Dojo

Getting started with Power Platform · Week 4 of 7

Power Automate: your first flow with an approval

Every new loan goes to an approval automatically, and the answer ends up in the list.

1 Learn

Work through the modules in order and tick them off here. Microsoft Learn keeps track of your progress if you are signed in there.

Get started with Power AutomateMicrosoft Learn, 62 minOpen module: Get started with Power Automate
Build approval flows with Power AutomateMicrosoft Learn, 44 minOpen module: Build approval flows with Power Automate

2 Practise: Get loans approved

You do the exercise on a computer. If you are reading on your phone, take your progress along.

Create an automated cloud flow with the trigger "When an item is created" on your list.
Add "Start and wait for an approval". For now, you approve yourself.
If approved, the flow sets the status to "On loan"; otherwise it emails the requester with the comment.
Add an entry in the app and approve it in Teams or by email.
Open the run history and look at the inputs and outputs of each step.

If you get stuck

The flow does not start: check that it is turned on and points to the same site and list as the app. The trigger checks for new items at intervals, so it can take a few minutes.
The status cannot be set: in "Update item", pick the value under "Status Value" from the list. The ID of the item comes from the trigger.

Done when a new entry from the app starts an approval and the status shows "On loan" after you approve it.

Hands-on task done

Matching tips

#PowerPlatformTip 9: Test Your Flow Before ActivationTip on powerplatformtip.com
#PowerPlatformTip 6: formatDateTime in utcNowTip on powerplatformtip.com

Helpful tools

Free, run in your browser, no upload.

utcNow() / formatDateTime TesterTry date formats before you put them in the email.

3 Self-test

Answer each question in your head or on paper first, then open the answer. Recalling sticks better than rereading.

What is a trigger?

The event that starts a flow, for example a new item in a list.

Which flow type runs every morning at 7?

A scheduled cloud flow with the Recurrence trigger.

Where does the approver see the request?

In Teams, in Outlook as an email and in the Power Automate portal under "Approvals".

From week 3: what does Patch() do with ThisItem as the second argument?

It changes exactly the item in that gallery row instead of creating a new one.

Take the optional online test in the dojo (it is called the belt exam there). Goal this week: white or yellow belt. Go to the powerautomate.ninja dojo

Did you not know an answer? Open the matching module above again before you tick this off.

I could answer the questions

4 Connect optional

Stuck? Write to your Sensei or bring the question to the user group. The Power Platform User Group Deutschschweiz (German-speaking Switzerland) meets online every two weeks on Friday from 1 to 2 pm, free and in German.